Scabies or scabies is a common and long-lasting skin disease that causes intense itching. This disease is caused by mites that dig holes under the skin. Scabies can be easily transmitted by skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Itching is caused by the body's allergic reaction to the mites, their droppings, and their eggs under your skin. Small bubbles and a reddish scab will form on the skin over each mite, and it will itch as a result of this reaction. Scabies is highly contagious, but you can get rid of the itching by killing these pests and getting your life back to normal.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Seeking Scabies Treatment
Step 1. Recognize the signs of scabies
All cases of intense itching that lasts for weeks to months can result from scabies. Signs of scabies include:
- Severe itching that occurs especially at night.
- Pimple-like bumps that appear on the skin like a rash. The rash can occur all over the body or be limited to certain areas. The most common places for a rash are the wrists, armpits, knuckles, genitals, and waistline. This rash may also be accompanied by small bubbles.
- Line the small holes between the bumps. It is usually gray in color and slightly swollen.
- Norwegian scabies is a very heavy type of scabies. The hallmark of Norwegian scabies is a thickening of the skin that breaks easily and appears gray in color. This thickened layer of skin contains hundreds to thousands of mites and their eggs.
- Be aware of these symptoms if you have come into contact with anyone with scabies.
Step 2. Visit a doctor
Visiting your doctor is important. Over-the-counter medications and home remedies will not completely treat this infection.
- Doctors usually only need to look at the rash to diagnose this condition. He or she may also take a sample by exfoliating the skin under the lump and examining the mites, eggs, and feces under a microscope.
- Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or have any other serious or serious skin condition.
Step 3. Treat hives yourself
If your itching is severe enough, you may need to treat it yourself while waiting for a doctor's appointment or prescription. Cold water or calamine lotion may relieve your itching. You can also take an oral antihistamine such as hydroxyzine hydrochloride (Atarax), or diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl).
For more severe itching, your doctor may suggest a short course of oral or topical steroids
Step 4. Ask for a prescription
After making a diagnosis, your doctor will usually prescribe a mite-killing cream or lotion that contains 5% Permethrin.
- Permethrin is applied topically and has some side effects such as burning/stinging and itching.
- Usually Permethrin will work with only one use (within 8 - 14 hours). But your doctor may recommend using it again one week after the first use, to kill the newly hatched mites.
- For people who have a severe scabies infection and have a weak immune system, doctors may prescribe Ivermectin as an oral medication. Ivermectin is a drug that is taken by mouth. Usually this drug is used to treat Norwegian scabies and is taken in a single dose. Some doctors may prescribe a second dose after one week. Side effects of Ivermectin include fever/chills, headache, loss of appetite, joint pain, and rash.
- Your doctor may prescribe a cream other than Permethrin. These creams include Crotamiton 10%, Lindane 1%, or Sulfur 6%. This cream is used less frequently, and is given if the patient fails to treat with Permethrin or Ivermectin. Treatment failure is common with the use of Crotamiton. Crotamiton side effects include rash and itching. Lindane is toxic if overused or misused. The side effects of Lindane are seizures and rash.
- If you have a severe bacterial infection, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics.
Step 5. Ask about herbal therapy
Several herbal ingredients are used traditionally to treat scabies. Research is still being done to investigate its effectiveness. Currently proven drugs are prescription drugs. Do not just rely on this herbal therapy alone. You can consult a doctor to combine one of these herbal therapies with medical therapy:
- Neem (Azadirachta indica)
- Karanja (Pongamia pinnata)
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
- Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia)
- Darvi (Berberis Aristata)
Part 2 of 3: Treating Scabies
Step 1. Take a shower and dry your body with a clean, freshly used towel
Wait a moment for your body to cool down before applying the medicine.
Step 2. Apply cream or lotion
Start behind the ears and jaw down. Apply with a cotton cloth, paint brush, sponge, or whatever came with the medicine to use it.
- Continue to rub the cream down, all over your body. Don't miss any body part. You should apply it to the genitals, soles of the feet, between the toes, back, and buttocks. Ask someone else for help if you can't reach it yourself.
- After applying it to the body, apply it to your hands. Apply it between your fingers and under your nails. You will need to reapply the cream to your hands each time you wash them.
Step 3. Wait
Leave the lotion or oil on your body for the recommended time. Usually between 8 to 24 hours.
The time you need to let the medication sit on your skin will depend on the product and your doctor's recommendations
Step 4. Take a shower to wash off the cream or lotion
After the recommended usage time is over, wash off the medication with warm running water. Be aware that you may still feel itchy for several weeks after treatment.
This is because the allergic reaction to the mite continues as long as the body of the dead mite is still on the skin. If this bothers you, consult your doctor again
Step 5. Treat everyone at home
Whole family members need treatment, even those who show no signs of scabies. This is done to prevent further mite infection.
Do not forget the people who visit the house. They include family members staying for some time, babysitters, and other guests
Step 6. Repeat as recommended
These creams are usually intended for one use with re-use after seven days. However, this is determined by the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Be sure to follow the instructions for use in the recipe.
You may need to be checked again after a week or two, when you plan to continue treatment and confirm the progress of your condition
Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Re-Infection
Step 1. Clean the house
To prevent reinfection after treatment, you should clean your entire home. The mite that causes scabies can live for a day or two outside the body. Cleaning the house will ensure that all remaining mites are dead.
- Clean the floor and bathroom surfaces with a disinfectant using a mop (you only need to do this after the first treatment).
- Vacuum floors, carpets and rugs. Dispose of the dust collection bag or its contents in the trash outside the home and dispose of it as soon as possible.
- Soak the mop in bleach after each cleaning.
- Clean the carpet with steam either using the services of a professional or with your own steam cleaner.
- Change the fireplace filter weekly.
Step 2. Wash all towels and bed sheets in hot water
Wash your sheets daily until you don't see any new bumps on your skin for at least a week. Wear disposable protective gloves when removing sheets.
- If you have a heavy mattress protector, you can place it in an airtight bag for 72 hours.
- Dry clothes and sheets in a hot dryer or dry in direct sunlight. You can also do dry cleaning.
- Put the blanket in the dryer before going to bed each night until you are sure the mite infestation has been contained.
Step 3. Wash your clothes every day
Store clothes that you cannot wash in an airtight bag for 72 hours to one week.
- The same approach can be used with dolls, combs, brushes, shoes, coats, hats, capes, wetsuits, etc. Vacuum bags that are widely available are airtight bags and don't take up much space.
- Put all your clothes in the pockets right after you take them off.
Step 4. Ask for help
If possible, ask someone to cook food and clean the house, including washing, etc. over the next few days. This will ensure you get the best effect from the treatment. Scabies medication can be negatively affected if your skin is exposed to water while washing dishes or preparing food.
- If you live alone, try cooking frozen meals that are ready to be reheated and eaten. Wash cookware in the dishwasher or use disposable cutlery until you can use the water freely again.
- If water gets on your skin, immediately reapply the medicine to the affected area.
Step 5. Check back after six weeks
If you still feel itchy after six weeks, this is a sign that your treatment is not working. Visit your doctor for advice and find out about new treatment options.
Tips
- You'll still feel itchy for about a month after all the mites have died, but if there aren't any more bumps on your skin, you're cured.
- Mite eggs hatch every 2 days. If you notice a new lump 2½ days after the first treatment, talk to your doctor as this means you will need to reapply the cream, etc. You've killed the adult mite, but the eggs still under the skin may not have died, so the new mites hatch again. Get rid of the mites before they spawn again.
- Avoid contact with infected people.
- Seriously wash as many appliances in the house as possible. After treatment, wash all items (such as clothing, sheets, and towels) that have touched anyone who has been infected in the past three days.
- When putting soiled clothes from an infected person in the washing machine, wear disposable gloves. You don't want to multiply mites in your body. Use new gloves when removing clothes from the dryer and folding them.
- Store the infected person's clothes in plastic bags, away from the clothes of other family members. Don't put dirty clothes in the basket you use to put clean clothes, or you could transmit the mites back to your clothes.
- Only use Ivermectin if you cannot be cured by other drugs. This medication can make you sensitive to light for 24 hours, so wear sunglasses throughout the day.
Warning
- Unless your doctor recommends it, avoid using steroids or corticosteroids. You should not use these medications to fight itching, as they can weaken your immune system.
- Do not continue to use the scabies medication if you still have itching. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice and assistance.
